Plate-clamp.



No. 778,255. PATPNTPD DPG. 2v, 190A. W. J. MAIN. PLATE CLAMP.

APPIIOATION FILED JAN. 14, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

my I A mdf/1% J PATENTBD DEC. 27, 1904.

W. J. MAIN.

PLATE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14..1902.

2 SEEETS-SHEBT 2f .a l Haai-f'. "e

UNrTED STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

. PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT HOE,

PLATE-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,255, dated December27, 1904. Application filed January 14, 1902. kSerial Nc. 89,679.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM J. MAIN, a citi'- zen of the United States,residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Clamps, fullydescribed and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same. y

This invention relates to certainl improvements in clamping devices, andmore particularly to that class of clamping devices which are used forsecuring electrotype or stereotype plates to the beds on which theyare'supported during the printing operation. l

The invention has for its object to produce a simple and cheap clampwhich can be readily adjusted in position, the parts of which are notliable to become lost, and which is very effective in operation.

With this and other objects in view the invent-ion consists in certainconstructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, aswill be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out inthe claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,andin which like characters of reference indicate the same parts,

Figure 1 is a planview of a plate-supportingl bed having a series ofplates secured in position thereon by the improved clamp. Fig. 2 is adetail sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the line 2 2 in-Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the improved clamp removed from the plate. Fig. t is a detail sectionon the line 4 l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view on` an enlarged scaleof one of the clamps in position. Fig. 6 is an end view of the clampshown in Fig. 3'. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail views illustrating theconstruction of a modified form of the clamp, and Figs. 10, 1,1, andl12f are detail views illustrating another form of the clamp. Referringto the drawings, 1 indicates a plate-supporting bed which is providedwith recesses for the clamps to be hereinafter described. ATheserecesses may be made in any desired form. Preferably, however, they willconsist of grooves 2, arranged diagonally across the bed, as is usual.While the walls of these grooves might be vertical, if desired, they arepreferably undercut, and preferably also the undercutportion will becurved, as indicated at. By constructing the recesses in the form-0fgrooves, as shown, it is possible to adjust the clamps readily from oneThe clamp further includes a carrier for the locking member to behereinafter described. This carrier may be variously constructed and maybe integrally connected to the retaining-plate or vmay be separatetherefrom and secured thereto in anydesired manner. As shown in Figs. lto 9, inclusive, the carrier consistsof an integral downwardlyprojectingstem 7, which is provided with a chamber 8 for the locking member. Asshown in Figs. 10 to l2, inclusive, the carrier consists of a chamberedblock 9, which is independent ofthe retaining-plate and secured thereto.

' The locking member may be constructed in various ways and givenvarious configurations. Preferably, However, it will be provided with acurved operating-face. In the construction shown inFigs. y1 to 5 thelocking member consists of a ball 10, which is located in the chamber.In the construction shown in Figs. 7 8, and `9 the locking membeentirely contained within the chamber in the carrier. This constructionenables the clamp to be withdrawn vertically from the grooves whennecessary, thus obviating the necessity of sliding the clamps to the endof the grooves in order to remove them, as 1s the case with many of theclamps now in ordinary use.

Means are preferably provided for retaining the locking member in thechamber, so that it may not be lost or misplaced when the clamp isremoved from the groove. VVlnle this may be eected in various ways inthe construction shown, the mouths or openings of the chambers arepreferably provided with shoulders 12. These shoulders may be formed inany desired mannerwas, for instance, by forming one of the mouths ofopenings in the chamber slightly smaller than the other and thenupsetting the edges of the larger mouth after the locking member hasbeen introduced.

Suitable means are provided for positioning the locking member so thatit will engage a wall or walls of the groove. In the construction shownin Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, this positioning device consists of a screw13, which is tapped through the retainingplate and into the carrier, thescrew being suflicientlyv long so that when it is forced home its lowerend will come in contact with a side of the ball or cylinder. Thisscrew, however, strikes the ball or cylinder on one side of its centralline, and therefore tends to move it outward, thereby forcing the ballor cylinder into engagement with the wall of the groove. When the wallof the groove is undercut, as it will be in the preferred form of theconstruction, the pressure produced by the screw on one side of thelocking member not only forces the member outward, but also produces apressure which tends to drive the clamp forcibly down into the bottom ofthe recess and also over against the opposite wall of the same. Thetightening of the screw therefore not only drives the clamp down intothe bottom of the recess, but securely locks it in position therein.

While the` bottom of the chamber may be at right angles to the axis ofthe screw, if desired, it will be, preferably, slightly inclined, assh'own, so that the locking member tends to roll down it. When theplate-clamp is placed in position in the recess or groove, the lockingmember will be so placed as to be properly acted upon by the screwgthatis to say, it will be so located that the screw will strike it at oneside of its center.

In the modification shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 the carrier 9 isconnected to the retaining-plate by means of ascrew 14, and the 11 inthe chamber of the carrier, thus cansing these cylinders to move outwardand engage the walls of the recess.

The construction illustrated in Figs ll), ll, and 12 forms thesubject-matter ol divisional application, Serial No. 153,901, liledApril :28, 1903.

While the constructions which are illustrated and have been describedconstitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to beunderstood that the invention may be embodied in constructions whichdil'ler widely therefrom. The invention is not, therefore, to be limitedto the specific constructions hereinbefore set forth.

That is claimed is- 1. The combination with a supporting-bed having arecess, of a retaining-plate, a locking member, a carrier for saidmember, and means independent of the carrier for positioning said memberin locking engagement with a wall of the recess, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a supporting-bed having an undercut recess, of aretainingplate, a locking member, a carrier for said member, and meansindependent of the earrier for positioning` said member in lockingengagement with a wall of the recess, substantially as described.

- 3. The combination with a supporting-bed having a recess, of aretaining-plate, a carrier connected to said plate, a locking memberloosely mounted in the carrier, and means for positioning said member inlocking engagement with a wall of the recess, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with a supporting-bed having an undercut recess, of aretainingplate, a carrier connected to said plate, a locking memberloosely mounted in the carrier, and means for positioning said member inlocking engagement with a wall of the recess, substantially asdescribed.

5. rlhe combination with a supporting-bed having a recess, of aretaining-plate, a car-- rier, a locking member having a curvedoperating-surface loosely mounted in theicarrier, and means forpositioning said member in locking engagement with a wall of the recess,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a supporting-bed having an undercut recess, of aretainingplate, a carrier, a locking member having a curvedoperating-surface loosely mounted in the carrier, and means forpositioning said member in locking engagement with a wall of the recess,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a su pporting-bed having an undercut curvedrecess, ol" a retaining-plate, a carrier, a locking member having acurved operating-surface loosely mountied in the carrier, and means forpositioning said member in locking engagement with a wall of the recess,substantially as described.

8. The combination with a supporting-bed lOO `having an undercut curvedrecess, of a rehaving a recess, of a retaining-plate, a chamberedcarrier, a locking member loosely mounted in the carrier, and means forpositioning said member in locking engagement With a Wall of the recess,substantially as described.

9. The combination with a supporting-bed having an undercut recess, of aretainingplate, a chambered carrier, a locking member loosely mounted inthe carrier, and means for positioning said member in locking engagementWith a Wall of the recess, substantially as described.

curved operating-surface loosely mounted in the carrier, and means forpositioning said member in locking engagement with a Wall of the recess,substantially as described v 12. The combination With a supporting-bedhaving an undercut recess, of va retainingplate, a chambered carrier, alocking member having a curved operating'- surfacey loosely mountedinthe carrier, and means for positioning said member in lockingengagement with a Wall of the scribed. f

13. The combination With a supporting-bed recess, substantially asdetaining-plate, a chambered carrier, a locking member having a curvedoperating-surface loosely mounted in the carrier, and means forvpositioning said memberV in locking engagement With a Wall of therecess, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a supporting-bed 'having an undercut recess',of a retainingplate, a chambered carrier having an inclined bottom, alocking member having a curved operating-surface loosely mounted in thechamber, and means forpositioning said member in locking engagement witha Wall of the recess, substantially as described.

15. The combination with` a supporting-bed .having an undercutcurvedrecess, of a retaining-plate, a chambered carrier having aninclinedbottom, a locking member having aycurved operating-surfaceloosely mounted in the chamber, and means for positioning said memberiny locking engagement with a Wall of thze'recess, substantially asdescribed.

16. The combination With a supporting-bed having a recess, of aretaining-plate, a chambered carrier havingl an -inclined bottom, alocking member having a curved operatingsurface loosely mounted in thechamber,1neans for retaining the member in the chamber, and means forpositioning said member in locking engagement with a Wall of the recess,substantially as described.

17. The combination with a supporting-bed having an undercut curvedrecess, of a retaining-plate, a chambered carrier having an inclinedbottom, a locking member having a curved operating-surface looselymounted in the chamber, means for retaining the member in the chamber,and means for positioning said member in locking engagement With a Wallof the recess, substantially as described.

18. A plate-clamp comprising a retainingplate, a chambered carrier, alocking member loosely mounted in the carrier, and a positioning device,substantially as described.

19. A plate-clamp comprising a retainingplate, achambered carrier, alocking member having a curved operating surface loosely mounted in thecarrier, and a positioning device, substantially as described.

20. .A plate-clamp comprising a retainingplate, a chambered carrier, alocking member having a curved operating-surface loosely mounted in thecarrier, and a positioningscrew, substantially as described. f

21.' A plate-clamp comprising a retainingplate, a chambered carrier, alocking member having a curved operating-surface loosely mounted in thecarrier, means yfor retaining the locking member in the chamber, and apositioning device, substantially as described.

22. A plate-clamp comprising a retainingplate, a chambered carrier, alocking member having a curved operating-surface loosely mounted in thecarrier, means for retaining the locking member 'in the chamber, and apositioning-screw, substantially as described.

23. A plate-clamp comprising a retainingplate, a chambered carrier,a-spherical locking member loosely mounted in the chamber, and apositioning device for said member, substantially-as described. v n

24. A plate-clamp comprising a retaining- TOO plate, a chamberedcarrier, a spherical loclra side Wall of the receiving-slot and a screwi having a tapering end adapted to contact With said part and force thesame outward as the screw is turned.

26. In a printing-plate holder, the combination Witha bed or base plateprovided with 4grooves running slantingly with reference to the sides ofthe base-plate; of a printers block adapted to hold and laterally adjusta printing-plate; said block being provided with means adapted to securethe block in one of said grooves, said means comprising a plug adaptedto project laterally Jfrom the side of the'said block, and meansforforcing said plug outward and thereby looking said bleek means onsaid screw cooperating with smid 10 in said groove. laterally-movablemember.

27. A plate-holder of the Character deln testimony whereof l havehereunto set scribed, comprising a base or bleek provided my hand in thepresence of two subscribing 5 With slots, and plate-holding clampsarranged Witnesses.

on said block, said clamps consisting of a 'ILLIAM J. MAIN. plate, ascrew in operative connection with Witnesses: the plate, alaterally-movable clamping mem- F. WV. H. @nimm ber cooperating with aWall of said slot, and XV. F. MORGAN.

